Portret van Gabriël Metsu 1814 - 1882

This is Elisabeth Barbara Schmetterling’s “Portret van Gabriël Metsu,” made in the nineteenth century using engraving. Engraving, a printmaking technique, is a physically demanding medium. To create this image, Schmetterling would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate. The fine lines and precise details you see here are a direct result of this process. Look closely, and you can see how the density and direction of these lines create areas of light and shadow, bringing depth and form to the figure of Metsu. The textural qualities evident in the piece reveal Schmetterling's mastery over the burin. Consider the labor involved in producing such intricate work. Engraving demands skill and patience, reflecting a commitment to craft often undervalued in traditional art history. Schmetterling’s choice of this medium underscores the value of meticulous craftsmanship, and invites us to appreciate the artistry inherent in the printmaking process itself.